Why Do People Need to Sleep?

Why do people need to sleep? Isn’t it a waste of time? If you live to be 75, you’ll spend 25 years sleeping. That’s a good chunk of your life.

“Sleep, that deplorable curtailment of the joy of life.” – Virginia Woolf

“The only time I have problems is when I sleep.” – Tupac Shakur

“Life is too short for sleep” – Captain Hoff

Quotes aside, sleep is actually necessary, and scientists now believe they know why. When you’re asleep, the neurons shrink allowing chemicals to flow between them, flushing out harmful proteins that accumulate. This helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other problems. So if you want to avoid dementia, get a good night’s sleep!